"ANCHORAGE -- Six environmental groups sued Monday to throw out a federal agency rule that concludes oil exploration off Alaska’s northwest coast has a negligible effect on walrus.

The groups claim the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has understated the effects of booming seismic airguns, ship traffic and other industrial activity as it promulgated a five-year walrus harassment rule.

The agency has acknowledged there could be more significant disturbances when walrus gather in an important feeding area, Hanna Shoal, said Earthjustice attorney Erik Grafe, but promised to review the potential for harm in a forum that does not allow public comment. That’s illegal, Grafe said."

Dan Joling reports for the Associated Press November 11, 2014. [2]